Rare Sumatran Tiger Cub Born in the UK Cuddles with Mom in Adorable Photos

In a heartwarming scene, a precious six-week-old Sumatran tiger cub cuddles and receives affectionate licks from its mother, Surya. Born in a North Yorkshire zoo, this adorable cub is one of the world’s rarest big cats.

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Previously featured in the Daily Mail when it was just five days old, the cub’s sex remains unknown. However, zookeepers are thrilled with its development.

This week, the cub ventured out of its den to explore for the first time, captured by photographer Bruce Adams.

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Born with its eyes closed, like all tigers, the cub now showcases mesmerizing blue eyes. Its playful antics, such as rolling in the straw and seemingly waving its paw, make it the apple of its mother’s eye.

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Cat’s cradle: The six-week-old Sumatran tiger cub snuggles up in its mother’s arms at Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire. Source: Daily Mail

The cub’s birth has generated excitement as Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, potentially only 400 remaining in the world.

At first, the cub could only muster a yawn between naps in the secure den it shares with its parents, Surya and Bawa, at Flamingo Land Zoo near Kirby Misperton village.

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Now, the cub has started practicing its prowl and showing signs of teeth growth, gnawing on the wooden sides of the den. Once fully grown, it will have a formidable set of razor-sharp teeth. Zookeeper Martin Lees shared, “The cub has probably tripled in size and has been having a little bit of a stumble about.”

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Hello, world! The cub appears to give a wave as it rolls around in the straw in the secure den it shares with its parents. Source: Daily Mail

The cub will not be handled until it’s eight weeks old, when it will be weighed, sexed, and given an identity chip, followed by a name based on sex. Its eyes will turn yellow, like its parents’, during adolescence.

The tiger family will live together until the cub is around 18 months old, when the group dynamics will be assessed for potential separation.

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Surya and the laid-back Bawa arrived at the zoo seven years ago, contributing to the conservation efforts for this subspecies. In 2014, they had triplets.

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The cubโ€™s birth has caused a lot of excitement because Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, with as few as 400 left in the world. Source: Daily Mail
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Other than in zoos, tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Source: Daily Mail
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The cub with its proud parents, father Bawa, right, and Surya. All three will stay living as a group at least until the cub is around 18 months old. Source: Daily Mail

Wild Sumatran tigers only inhabit the Indonesian island of Sumatra, with their numbers dwindling from around 1,000 in the 1970s.

Deforestation-induced habitat loss and poaching remain significant threats to their survival. These tigers are among the rarest and smallest tiger breeds, typically measuring up to 8ft when fully grown, which is 2ft shorter than Bengal tigers. They are also excellent swimmers, thanks to webbing between their toes.

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Sumutra Tiger numbers have fallen from around 1,000 in the 1970s and are continuing to decline. Source: Daily Mail
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The cubโ€™s eyes will turn yellow, like its parentsโ€™, when it reaches adolescence. There are also signs its teeth are growing as it has started gnawing on the denโ€™s wooden sides. Source: Daily Mail

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Canidae Pet Food Reviews: An In-Depth Look

Choosing the right pet food is crucial for the health and well-being of our furry friends. In this blog post, we'll delve deep into Canidae pet food, a popular choice among pet owners, and provide an in-depth review based on various sources.

Canidae is a well-known brand in the pet food industry, offering a range of products designed to cater to pets of all ages, breeds, and sizes.

Product Range:

  • Canidae All-Life Stages (Dry): This vet-formulated product suits dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. It's available in both dry and wet formulas.
  •  Canidae Pure: A limited-ingredient diet crafted for dogs with food sensitivities. Each recipe typically includes 7 to 10 ingredients.

Key Ingredients

The Canidae All Life Stages Multi Protein Formula, which represents the brand's product line, contains ingredients like chicken meal, turkey meal, brown rice, peas, oatmeal, and barley. Chicken meal, the primary ingredient, is a meat concentrate with nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

Recalls and Safety

Canidae has had recalls in the past. It's essential to stay updated with the brand's recall history to ensure your pet's safety.

Customer Reviews

The Canidae Dog Food product line has earned an overall rating of 4.5 stars from The Dog Food Advisor. The Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food has received the Advisor's second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

Pros and Cons:

  • Pros: High protein content, suitable for all life stages, contains beneficial ingredients like flaxseed and taurine.
  •  Cons: It contains some controversial ingredients, and not all minerals are chelated, which might affect absorption.

Conclusion

Canidae All Life Stages is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that uses a notable amount of named meat meals as its primary source of animal protein. With an above-average protein content and a profile suggesting a significant amount of meat, it comes highly recommended for pet owners.